Summary

Andrade El Idolo and Darby Allin put together one of the more chaotic fights on the AEW Dynasty card, with the action spilling to ringside, into the crowd, and down the aisle before it finally came back to the ring for the finish. Andrade had Don Callis in his corner, but Darby kept finding ways to swing the match back in his favor.

The pace fit what AEW viewers have come to expect from Darby, especially after he called the Don Callis Family cursed ahead of AEW Dynasty. Andrade still had several stretches where he looked in control, including a brutal apron suplex that sent both men crashing to the floor.

Match recap

Early in the match, Andrade stopped to take a selfie with a female fan at ringside, and that opening let Darby answer with a Coffin Drop into the barricade. Darby kept the pressure on as the fight moved through the crowd and down the aisle steps.

Back inside the ring, Andrade tried to put Darby away with an avalanche Samoan drop, but Darby turned the landing into a crossface. Andrade escaped to the floor, then changed the momentum again when he suplexed Darby from the apron onto the arena floor.

Darby later hit a Coffin Drop, but Andrade prevented the referee from completing the three count. Andrade answered with a backfist, Darby kicked out, and the closing sequence saw Darby counter the DM and score the pinfall.

Winner

Darby Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo by pinfall after countering the DM.

What Darby Allin's win could mean in AEW

Darby Allin getting the win at AEW Dynasty gives him a meaningful pay-per-view result over a protected opponent who had Don Callis in his corner, and that keeps Darby positioned as one of AEW's most resilient big-match players. Andrade also came out of the bout with some credibility intact because the match was competitive throughout and ended with a post-match handshake rather than another angle extending the fight.

That handshake could matter just as much as the finish. AEW now has room to move Darby forward off a statement win, while Andrade can pivot into the next chapter without looking diminished after a hard-hitting loss.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ.